Face Up!
Focus Scripture: 1 John 1:8, 9 – “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Overview:
- We must acknowledge that we are, by nature, a sinful person.
- We must confront ourselves in a constructive and beneficial manner to deal with our sinful nature.
- We must lean more on Jesus for strength and victory in every area of life.
Facing Our Sins:
- Romans 6:1, 2 – “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
- We must come to grips with the fact that we are sinful beings.
- We must recognize sin for what it is.
- We must call on Jesus to help us overcome our sinful nature.
- We must do as Jesus did when he said, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” Matt 16:23
Facing Our Faults:
- Romans 7:14, 15 – “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
- Those of us that claim Christ as our Savior do not set out in the morning to do bad things.
- But, as Paul says, we are carnal or “of the flesh.”
- Therefore, we sometimes do things that we later regret.
- We know that we should shine forth Christ – but often in our dealings with others we fail.
- Often, what we do – or fail to do – is more than just a “fault,” it is a sin.
Facing Our Fears:
- Luke 12:6-8 – “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:”
- Fear is a result of guilt.
- Guilt gnaws away at our spirit and separates us from God.
- It keeps us from praising God and worshiping Him as we should.
- It keeps us from enjoying the full extent of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
- It keeps us from being the kind of witness that God wants us to be.
Action: Lean on Jesus
- Psalms 103:11, 12 – “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
- God would not remind us of our past sin. Satan does!
- If this is true — and it is — why would God want to then remind us of our sin? The answer is, He wouldn’t.
- But Satan does want to constantly remind us, so he can maintain some kind of hold on our nature.
- It is also we ourselves who keep the memories of sin going, in part, because we have not forgiven ourselves for that sin. This we must do.
- We must FULLY accept the forgiveness that is ours from God.
- We must lean on Jesus our Lord and Savior.
